Jealous lover sentenced to 68 years for killing rival

Accused told jury he killed in self-defense

Published 6:16 pm, Tuesday, September 15, 2015

GALVESTON – A jury has sentenced a Galveston County man to 68 years in prison for killing a man in an argument over a woman, the Galveston County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

The jury sentenced German Perez-Vasquez, 34, Friday for the Jan. 20, 2013, slaying of Erik Calvillo. Perez-Vasquez was convicted following a nearly two-week trial before District Judge Michelle Slaughter.

Samantha Escobedo, accused of assisting Perez-Vasquez in the slaying, testified for the prosecution, telling jurors that she lured Calvillo to her home in Bacliff after the two men argued over her at a dance and Calvillo punched Perez-Vasquez.

She testified that she had Calvillo sit with has back to where Perez-Vasquez was hiding, allowing Perez-Vasquez to attack him from behind. Perez-Vasquez struck Calvillo with a bottle, then a wireless network box and a butcher knife, Escobedo testified.

The pair moved the body to a back room and hours later decided to report Calvillo's death to Kemah police and claim self-defense, Escobedo said.

Perez-Vasquez testified that he killed Calvillo in self-defense, giving an elaborate demonstration to the jury

Escobedo agreed to plead guilty to murder and tampering with evidence in return for a 15-year sentence.